(no subject)

[tetrodotox1n]

Who: GLaDOS and Baelheit
Where: Mintaka headquarters
When: February 11
What: A partnership is discussed
Warnings: Awful robots and robot sympathizers

In retrospect, GLaDOS probably should have been expecting a request for a meeting in person. Humans. It's certainly not going to stop her, of course - by the time the agreed-upon day rolls around, she's repurposed a turret frame into a mobile core platform, assembled in her sub-facility near LA. It's a little clumsy, but not bad for 3 days' work, she thinks, and it serves its purpose just fine when she uploads herself into it.

And so, three days after GLaDOS's initial correspondence with Baelheit, a little orange robot walks right into the Mintaka lobby and up to the front desk.

Comments

[tetrodotox1n]

"Most of it, to be honest," she says. "Although I must admit that my personal interest and professional interests diverge somewhat. As you may or may not know, Aperture has... fallen on hard times, lately, and though our minds have not deteriorated, our resources have." GLaDOS blinks, even though she clearly doesn't need to. "I can provide you with public reports of our more successful projects, if you'd like. As for my personal interest in your research, I believe it was your older cybernetics development that originally caught my eye, so to speak. I myself have little practical need for the gadgets you're known for, but the more ambitious projects were very good reads."

[baelhat]

Baelheit mulls over her words, carefully and slowly. He is clearly a man who considers before he speaks. "Yes, the gadgetry is merely a source of revenue," he admits, "a way to fund my primary research into cybernetics. I assure you, GLaDOS, Mintaka Industries has not lost sight of its goals -- far from it. It is, perhaps, the least public of my endeavors of late, but the cybernetics division is alive and well."

He looks over the mobile platform, his expression almost as unreadable as the platform's general lack of one. "But if it's resources you're after...it begs the question of what Aperture would bring to the partnership."

[tetrodotox1n]

"Our ongoing research is on the table, naturally - you'll have a stake in projects completed with Mintaka's resources. Most of them will fit right in with Mintaka's currently available gadgets, I believe. I can also offer a portion of our robotics assets." GLaDOS almost motions to herself, then thinks better of it, and knocks on the mobile platform's chassis instead.

"My personal coding and schematics will, of course, be off-limits, but mobile platforms such as this one have been a large part of my more recent endeavors - if you are still as involved in the field of cybernetics as you say, I believe they may be of interest to you." She makes a show of inspecting the mobile platform's hand, putting it through its natural range of motion. There's a surprising amount of fluidity in it for something that looks so basic.

[baelhat]

Baelheit watches with rapt interest, his eyes sharpening. Robots assets...yes, that would be extraordinarily useful indeed, especially in conjunction with the data he's already gathering on Cybertronian anatomy. "I believe you may be right," he says, nodding curtly. "I must say, it is a tempting offer, GLaDOS. I'll have our legal department draw up a preliminary agreement -- we can review the terms and be sure the details are to everyone's satisfaction -- but I think we may have a deal here, GLaDOS."

[tetrodotox1n]

"Excellent." GLaDOS stands a little straighter, and the platform's cooling fans whir faintly. "You already have my primary means of contact, I believe - I look forward to working out the details of our arrangement, and, eventually, to working with you." Well, she's looking forward to his resources, at least. She wasn't lying about her interest in his cybernetics research, but if he actually follows through with anything she'll be surprised - humans.

[baelhat]

Most of the world's mistake, as far as Baelheit and Daimon are concerned, is their underestimation of his motivation to through. Baelheit does nothing halfway, especially not when -- as he is so convinced -- the fate of all their race hangs in the balance. Baelheit almost smiles -- almost -- and he rises as well, bowing his head by way of greeting.

"I look forward to it as well, GLaDOS. It was a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am sure that the partnership between Aperture and Mintaka Industries will be a fruitful one indeed."